Swan Study Week

Are you joining us for the Silver Swan Study Week? Starting on Tuesday 5 October, visitors will be able to watch a group of specialist conservators and curators dismantle the Silver Swan as the Museum explores the mechanical condition of this iconic object, ahead of creating a conservation plan for its preservation. There will be daily Q&As in the gallery, as well as Zoom panel discussions that you can join in from the comfort of your own home. Find out all the upcoming #SwanStudyWeek events here: bit.ly/EventsAt...
#SilverSwan #SwanStudyWeek #Conservation #MuseumConservation #MuseumObjects #BehindtheScenes #Automaton #18thcenturyrobot #JohnJosephMerlin #AutumnatTheBowesMuseum #EscapeTheEveryday #TheBowesMuseum #VisitTheBowesMuseum #BarnardCastle #Teesdale #CountyDurham #VisitCountyDurham #ThisIsDurham #Durham2025 #October2021

[@3113V3N]

This should be more valuable than the Mona Lisa.

[@mchepen]

Yes, although that is not saying much... my nephews drawings should be more valuable than that piece of crap. Its only famous cus its famous. Makes absolutely no sense.

[@van4195]

@@mchepenthat's ridiculous. this is famous because it's an artistic & engineering masterpiece, way ahead of its time.

[@mchepen]

@@van4195 i was talking about the mona lisa. The swan is amazing!!

[@minui8758]

Isn’t comparing a silver automaton to a painting a bit odd? The two things need totally different skill sets to produce them. I happen to agree if I could only see one of them in my lifetime for some reason. But it’s sort of like saying this clock is better than this cathedral, or this bedside table is better than this kitchen sink… or this apple is better than this orange

[@minui8758]

@@mchepen you’ve got a legit point but you also exaggerate. Yes there is an unjustified degree of obsession with Mona Lisa and you, I, and many others are more impressed by the Bowes automaton. However it’s ridiculous to dismiss the Mona Lisa as rubbish. It is overblown and not obviously so superior to other exceptional renaissance portraits as to justify the crowds and my favourite Leonardo is actually the Virgin of the Rocks which is usually an empty gallery. Having said all that it’s still an exceptional portrait most of us couldn’t hope to imitate if we were given a brush and paint.

[@PerAnkh418]

I seen the swan as a child in the 1960's /70's, quite a few times since I didn't live too far from the museum. I was totally mesmerised by the Silver Swan. Really has to be seen with the hand eye 👍 😊

[@Aeoxander]

With the hand eye?

[@mn4169]

I saw it moving as a child in the early 1970s. A moment in my life I will never forget. I was about 8 or 9. it brings back such lovely memories of the day and my love for swans was born-.

[@vaskitheinsane3985]

Idk why but every time I see video of this masterpiece, I tear up a bit. Is lovely to see something that had so much love and pure thought out into such a marvel.

[@GeorgiaGeorgette]

I do too. It's so moving.

[@Kayume]

Absolutely spectacular. I don't know how you managed to catch such lustrous feathers on screen, but this is wonderful. Thank you so much for creating this video to share with people who cannot see the display in person!!

[@glassjaw2007]

This is a masterpiece, this mastercraftsman tried to do something of a miracle, to emulate or create a lifelike creature, astonishing, to think how many nights he thought about the delicate intricancies, astonishing, i teared up a bit.

[@amystroop384]

This is just the most amazing thing. Can you imagine making all those pieces by hand?

[@KaylaBuhdayla]

This is my FAVORITE automaton!!! ❤❤❤

[@Ad_Astra2023]

Absolutely amazing artwork! I can’t wait to see it with my own eyes.

[@iamnhine]

The most beautiful I’ve ever seen!!! ✨🍃💜

[@rubymayfair674]

WOW !!! Thank you for that...Ive never seen such a thing!

[@tonin447]

Somehow around 1964 one of these ended up in Kingston upon Hull, a solicitor in the town called Mr Briggs had this at his family home one Christmas, my mother was taken by the solicitor to see it, she was amazed and to this day tells me about seeing this and was spellbound by it. I don't know for what reason it ended up there or if it was a different one however it's an incredible thing to see.

[@ryanbarker5217]

that's great to see it disassembled. i hope there's a video showing how the mechanism works.

[@timnoonan9023]

Everytime I build something there's so much more to do.i love building

[@JohnCBradley]

A wonderful creation

[@Millennial_Mike]

My brain cannot comprehend how this works! Pure genius

[@wyyrdojim]

1773, wow! Just wow! Beautiful!🥲

[@grahamarobinson]

Amazing and in our doorstep

[@sefir1453]

Harika. Masallardan fırlamış bir kuğu. Muhteşem bir mekanizma ve sonuç ortada. 👏👏👏

[@Oregontrailblazin]

I watched the Swan too. Thank you !

[@MattXShaver]

So cool

[@victormanuelrezacelio1861]

Hermosísimo autómata increíble la genialidad de su constructor

[@jahirisparra3168]

Hermoso tan hermoso! nunca había visto algo así ❤

[@marks47]

"Cool rocking chair, Mr. Franklin. Check THIS out...."

[@buskingkarma2503]

Remarkable!👌

[@jesslvrde6027]

I'm going to name my child Merlin

[@rogeramezquita5685]

So beautiful

[@jessiejames2155]

Made by John Joseph Merlin..?! Well, that explains it . He's related to Merlin the Magician...

[@okiemmarty337]

Niesamowite 😮

[@FernandoCanales-rn8wi]

A mechanic wonder.

[@hazellkelly-shewolf5853]

How cool is that?

[@raqueldelatorre3504]

I’m speechless just amazing thank you for sharing❤❤🦢🎶

[@Reactivelight]

I would be terrified to touch that.

[@joemariemirador4017]

how did they use it?

[@matthijshannink]

Entertainment, impressing guests.

[@van4195]

that's an angel

[@SiberianFlower]

Что то есть пугающее в этом лебеде, мотание головой некрасивое, но конечно это произведение искусства!

[@ortherner]

ok

[@sa.renton1631]

Swan eat fish ?

[@iamnhine]

It explains how the hologram works. Our body is the swan. The machine the controls its actions is our brain. The music is our vibration. Every possibilities exist. We just beed to tune it to it. Please wake up 🥹

[@sexypoetry]

what happens with the little fish after the swan swallows it?

[@moist_onions]

The fish was always in the swans mouth when it is “caught” the fish leaves the mouth and shows itself, when it’s swallowed it goes back to the resting position

[@sexypoetry]

@@moist_onions ....so...the swan doesn't really picks up the fish from the "water"?

[@moist_onions]

@@sexypoetry nope it’s always in the mouth, just timed to come out when the head lifts from the water

[@sexypoetry]

@@moist_onions Thanks!